Familiar face returns to lead Fijiana on interim basis

The Fiji Rugby Union have confirmed that Mike Legge will lead the Fijiana XV on an interim basis between March and April.

Legge, who has previously been an assistant with the side between 2020 and 2022, will lead the team in their Test against the Wallaroos in March and in April’s Oceania Women’s Series.

Over the years Legge has also been an assistant with the Fijiana Drua side that won Super Rugby W in 2022 and has been part of the FRU High Performance Unit since 2019 where he has focused on player development.

“I’m just really privileged to be in this position,” Legge said. “I’ve been part of the women’s program since 2020, when we first had the inaugural women’s high-performance unit come in, and have been part of the program ever since. I’m really honoured and blessed to lead this team in the interim.”

Along with Legge’s appointment, Tavaita Rowati is the team’s assistant backs and skills coach and ex-Fiji men’s international Joshua Matavesi has taken on responsibility for the team’s defence, backs and kicking strategy.

Former Fiji Under-20s head coach Kele Leawere will take care of the forwards and Ifereimi Rawaqa will look after the lineout alongside his role with Mick Byrne’s men’s team.

Last year at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup the Fijiana, then led by Ioan Cunningham, ended their campaign in England by stunning the world with a 28-25 group stage victory over Wales in Exeter.

On Friday 27 March the Fijiana will be back in action against the Wallaroos in Canberra. Their opponents will also be led by an interim head coach in the form of Sam Needs.

While Australia will then go to North America for the Pacific Four Series, the Fijiana will return home for the Oceania Women’s Series and try to win their sixth title in eight years.